Over the course of a child’s placement with a caregiver, the child’s caseworker must:

  •   ensure that the caregiver has up-to-date information about the child;

  •   ensure that the caregiver has the child’s education portfolio;

  •   ask the caregiver to help develop and implement the child’s service plan;

  •   give the caregiver copies of the:

  •   placement transfer summary;

  •   Child’s Plan of Service;

  •   education portfolio;

  •   IMPACT form, Medical and Developmental History and Physical Examination;

  •   medical records; and

  •   medical log. When the caseworker gives the child’s caregiver the medical log from IMPACT, the worker must ask the caregiver to:

  •   update the form each time the child receives medical services; and

  •   give the worker an updated copy before each service plan review;

  •   identify in the Child’s Plan of Service any support services that the caregiver must receive to meet the child’s needs, and (within the limits of available resources) ensure that the caregiver receives those services;

  •   help and encourage the caregiver to participate as a team member in planning for, delivering services to, and evaluating the progress of the child;

  •   give 10-day written notification of Chapter 263 court review hearings, as required by law, so that the caregiver can plan to attend and present testimony, if desired;

  •   give appropriate notification of permanency planning meetings so that the caregiver can plan to attend and be heard, if desired;

  •   give appropriate notification of any other reviews held with respect to the child, so that the caregiver can plan to attend and be heard, if desired;

  •   make monthly contact with the caregiver, at least by phone;

  •   visit the child and the caregiver at the caregiver’s home or facility in a majority of the monthly visits with the child;

  •   during monthly contact, discuss the caregiver’s specific concerns about the child’s care, such as the child’s relationship with the caregiver’s family, changes in the composition or functioning of the caregiver’s family, problems with DFPS policies, and so on. Identify any follow-up support services that may be needed;

  •   respond to requests for information;

  •   help the caregiver find ways to manage the child’s behavior;

  •   assess the caregiver’s ability to respond to and meet the child’s needs;

  •   assess the caregiver’s need for services to support the placement; and

  •   provide any follow-up support services that are requested or needed.